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By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
Life has a funny way of coming full circle. Just ask Bob Waters. The Northern Arizona University (NAU) graduate was recently contemplating his future career options, which led to an unlikely reunion.
Waters spent the last year as a substitute teacher in the Tempe Union High School and the Tempe Elementary School districts, to see if teaching was the right fit. He discovered that it was.
He reached out to his own former high school English teacher, who recommended he take a look at Rio Salado College’s post baccalaureate teacher certification program.
“The very first sentence on the program webpage says post baccalaureate programs are designed for individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher in any area,” Waters said. “I thought, wow, that's exactly what I am looking for. I already have my bachelor’s degree in history so this program is perfect for me.”
Waters applied to the program, and found that he could keep working while pursuing his teacher certification.
“I loved that my classes were going to be completely online so I could continue working without any scheduling conflicts,” Waters said.
After registering for classes, he logged into his first course, and made a surprising discovery.
“I logged on to the student portal for the first time to read through the class syllabus,” Waters said. “When I got to the class page, I saw the instructor’s name. Instantly it rang a bell. I dug out my yearbooks from elementary school, and sure enough, there she was.”
“She” turned out to be Julie Ferin, Waters’ fourth-grade teacher at Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School in Phoenix, and current Instructional Services Director for Educator Preparation Programs at Rio Salado College.
“I messaged her and she responded saying she remembered me,” Waters said. “That is how we reconnected after all these years.”
For Ferin, the reappearance of her former student was a happy revelation.
"Seeing Bob’s name in my inbox after all these years was such a beautiful surprise,” Ferin said. “I absolutely remembered him; there are some students you never forget. He had this spark, even in fourth grade, a mix of curiosity and kindness that stood out."
Waters remembered Ferin as a compassionate and engaging teacher.
“I do recall that I was an incredibly anxious child and I think Julie was the first teacher to recognize it,” he said. “She would check in with me often. She was a fun teacher and I have a lot of great memories from that year.”
Waters said having supportive teachers in his life, coupled with his own childhood anxiety, helped shape his own career path.
“I realized how my teachers' encouragement enriched my life,” Waters said. “I decided to become a teacher because I want to help encourage the next generation of students like my teachers did for me.”
Waters is currently pursuing his post baccalaureate program in Special Education at Rio Salado College, and is enjoying his online learning experience.
“The courses are well designed and easy to navigate,” Waters said. “My instructors are very responsive. All I have to do is send a message and we schedule a video call to go over any questions I have.”
Waters has learned a few tips that have helped him be a successful online student.
“I had to learn to be more organized and plan ahead,” he said. “Sometimes I have to stay up late or wake up early to get everything done. After the first couple of weeks of class, I had a good idea how much time it took me to complete my work.”
Waters is looking forward to completing his program and getting into the classroom full-time.
“I think my Rio degree will give me a really strong foundation to build my teaching career on,” Waters said. “My future aspirations are to become a special education teacher, and to pursue a master’s degree in education to further my knowledge.”
When that his happens, Waters’ No. 1 fan will be proudly cheering him on.
“It’s rare to see a former student come full circle like this, stepping into the profession with so much heart and purpose,” Ferin said. “Watching him grow into the kind of educator who will make a real difference… it’s incredibly special. I know this isn’t just a passing connection; it’s the beginning of a lifelong friendship.”